terça-feira, setembro 23, 2008

The de facto AMP government lead by Xanana Gusmão is showing itself to be totally incapable to provide the legal, technical and economic arguments that can convince the Greater Sunrise joint venture partners that a pipeline to Timor-Leste and an onshore LNG processing plant is the best and most viable option for the field's development, said the former Timorese Prime Minister Dr Alkatiri today.

Dr Alkatiri negotiated both the Timor Sea treaty and the Certain Maritime Arrangements in the Timor Sea (CMATS) Treaty. He was speaking from Dili today after having met with his parliamentary colleagues to discuss recent developments and media reports that the Greater Sunrise joint venture had decided on Darwin as the location for the LNG plant to process the gas from Greater Sunrise.

"I think that the media reports of a site location decision by the Sunrise joint venture are premature. From recent discussions with Woodside's top executives in charge of the project during a recent visit to Dili, I don't believe the investment decision has been made yet. So the media reports are misleading and mischievous. As far as I can gauge, it is just a lot of noise," Dr Alkatiri said.

"But they are uncomfortable about other noise coming from the Timor-Leste side that may lead them to question whether or not this Timor-Leste government knows the ground rules for the legal and technical process which will guide the discussions on which will be the best and most viable option for developing the Greater Sunrise field. I am worried by statements from people like the de facto Prime Minister and his Secretary of State for Natural Resources that it is a matter for the two governments to discuss. This is just wrong," stressed Dr Alkatiri.

In recent media reports following Mr Gusmão's visit to Australia, where this issue was discussed between Mr Gusmão and Australian Prime Minister Rudd, Mr Gusmão is quoted as having said: "This is an issue for negotiation between the two governments", meaning the governments of Timor-Leste and Australia.

"This is wrong because the Treaty documents set out the criteria, the process and the mechanism for joint decision making. The developers of Greater Sunrise will present a proposal to the Sunrise Treaty Commission which will decide whether or not the development plan meets the technical and economic criteria set out by the treaty. Its not for the two government's to negotiated as this de facto government thinks," added Dr Alkatiri.

"Then you add the suspicion arising from the government's signing of hitherto secret agreements with international oil companies who have no legal stake in the Greater Sunrise field. According to the explanation given by the Secretary of State during recent parliamentary hearings, this secret agreement purports to give them rights to market the gas from the field which they do not have, but in fact rests with the downstream contractors. I think we have a very volatile mix that will place in jeopardy Timor-Leste's chances of getting a pipeline and LNG plant on our shores. This is a goal we all share and we support any government that tries to achieve that. But we have an obligation to speak out when we see actions that could jeopardize our chances," Dr Alkatiri stressed.

Dr Alkatiri repeated his offer that FRETILIN have always been ready, willing and able to contribute with their extensive experience in negotiating these resource-related matters, through an appropriate inclusive and consultative body established for this specific purpose.

"That is how we were able to negotiate the outcomes we did during our government against the odds. We included everyone, civil society, opposition in parliament, the president, everyone," he said in closing.

Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão affirmed that the International Stabilization Forces (ISF) and the United Nations Police (UNPOL) would maintain their presence in the country because Timor still needed many things from them.

Head of the executive made the statement after having meeting with his counterpart Australian Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibbon here Friday (19/9) in relation to the contradictory statements made about the presence of the ISF and UNPOL in the country.

He also said that Timor-Leste still needs the presence of the International Stabilization Forces because if unwanted things happened it would be hard to call them back.

He also reminded that the presence of the ISF and UNPOL were needed here to help the security and defense sector reforms.

Gusmão reiterated that Australia is a long-terms partner for East Timor.

Australian Defense Minister Fitzgibbon said Australia is always willing to help the security and defense sectors of the country.

He also said that Australia could help the training of the F-FDTL and PNTL if it was asked by the Government.

Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão reaffirmed Friday (19/9) the commitment of his Government that there would be no intimidation against the future anti-corruption commission because the commission itself would not be responsible to his office.

"If the anti corruption commission was under the Prime Minister, that would be the case; however, what we are preparing is that the commissioners would be elected by the Parliament, like the Ombudsman," said Xanana.

During the conference, the ousted Prime Minister Marí Alkatiri argued to simply strengthen the existing systems such as the Ombudsman Office and the office of the Inspector General, instead of creating a new anti corruption commission.

The Director of Human Rights and Justice (HAK) Association, José Luis Oliveira said the establishment of the new anti corruption commission would weaken the existing bodies dealing with corruption.

He also said that one condition to put in place in relation to combating corruption was a law on public access to information.

Meanwhile, the office of Ombudsman is reportedly saying that the office is fully committed to serving the interest of the people in fighting corruption regardless of the huge challenges it faces.

East Timor's situation is far better than other countries', says PM - Diário Nacional, 22 September

Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão said Sunday (21/9) the country's situation was better than the situation of other countries because level of violence occurred was not as high as other countries' level of violence.

"I believe that international community would agree with me on this," during the commemoration of international peace day here.

Xanana stressed the state of Timor-Leste should not be swayed by the relatively calm situation in the country because the people of the country deserve to live in a country where there was freedom and no violence.

"The Timorese people deserve to live in a community where is no fear about the security, in a community where there is no rush to avoid themselves from being victims of violence," said Gusmão.

He said the 2006 crises, the IDPs and the attack of February 11 represent red records in the sense of conquering a long-standing peace in the country.

However, he highlighted, the people were happy now as the current government succeeded in halting the circles of violence and in finding peaceful solutions to some of the conflict-related issues.

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão has called on martial art clubs in the Capital Dili to strengthen peace and stability in the country. The prime minister made the call yesterday during a speech marking ceremony for commemorating the World Peace Day, falling on (21/9). Gusmão said he was pleased with the martial art clubs who had spent their times to join a peaceful long march held yesterday in Dili.

"I am pleased because today the martial art clubs are taking part in this event and is showing that the martial art clubs want create peace and stability in the country.

We are threatened, says deputy prosecutor general - Timor Post, 22 September

Deputy Prosecutor General, Ivo Jorge Valente, said they had been threatened by certain people through telephone during the process of handling corruption cases.

Valente recognized certain people had threatened them when they talked about corruption practices in the country.

Valente said although they were threatened, yet they had always consulted with Timorese Human Rights and Justice Ombudsman and Inspectorate General on the issue.

He added the Public Prosecution had also investigated a corruption case in Oecusse district and had been tried in the court and the verdict was successfully taken.

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão said Timor-Leste was a new country and had just reached its independence; therefore situation and peace in the country were still volatile.

The prime minister said Timor-Leste had experience in the process of peace building, showing either good or bad outcomes.

"We have experience in the process of peace building, showing some of good and bad outcomes. We therefore should not hide the reality that we have just reached peace within the country's independence," Gusmão said during speech marking ceremony for commemorating the World Peace Day yesterday.

He called on all Timorese people to put hands together in the process of democracy building, so that the country could remain calm.

Bishop of Baucau Diocese also called on all Timorese politicians to make proper politics of criticizing each other, yet the criticism ought to be constructive in restoring peace and stability.

Peace should not be separated from human rights: UNMIT chief - Timor Post, 22 September

Chief of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste, Atul Khare said peace and human rights should not be separated from each other, because was no one could live in peace if his/her right was not guaranteed.

Khare made the comments yesterday during a speech marking ceremony for commemorating the World Peace Day, falling on (21/9).

"We cannot separate peace from human rights, because no one can live in peace if his/her right is not fully guaranteed. We also cannot make our efforts to stay away from war, as maintaining peace is harder than making war," Khare said.

Khare said they all had made efforts to restore peace and stability through pamphlets, saying what you did for peace.

Adding that acts of crime had been reduced, problem of the petitioners and IDPs were resolved, and situation of the country from day to day continued improving to consolidate democracy building.

US to continue supporting Timor-Leste - Televizaun Timor-Leste, 22 September

Deputy Prime Minister Jose Luis Guterres said the US would continue supporting Timor-Leste in the sectors determined.

The deputy prime minister made the comments after participating in a seminar on Timor-Leste National Security Development Policy in Honolulu of US.

Guterres said the issues discussed in the seminar were defense and security within the country and the result was positive where the US had stated good will to keep supporting Timor-Leste.

Guterres added Timor-Leste kept building good bilateral ties with the US, Australia, New Zealand, Portugal and Indonesia.

The seminar was the first one when the Parliamentary Majority Alliance (AMP) Government is power.